18638. First National Bank (Alexandria, VA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run โ†’ Suspension โ†’ Closure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
651
Charter Number
651
Start Date
September 27, 1873
Location
Alexandria, Virginia (38.818, -77.082)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
04b3d16da624ffb2

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals

Other: Issued certified checks to represent deposits (to avoid paying out currency and prevent specie drain).

Description

Article of 1873-09-29 describes heavy withdrawals and banks (including the First National) paying out currency during the financial strain of late September 1873 (the Panic of 1873). By 1873-11-11 the First National Bank is in receivership paying depositors 30 cents on the dollar, indicating suspension/closure following the earlier run. 1875-11-24 note about Thanksgiving is merely a holiday suspension of business. Cause of the run is systemic (collapse related to Jay Cooke/panic), not a rumor or isolated mistake.

Events (4)

1. December 24, 1864 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. September 27, 1873 Run
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Heavy withdrawals and panic in late September 1873 associated with the wider financial crisis (Jay Cooke collapse); banks paid out currency to meet demands.
Measures
Paid currency for small checks and wages; certified checks offered for larger deposits; accommodated legitimate business withdrawals.
Newspaper Excerpt
The week which closed with Saturday was fullest of trial ... The First National Bank will continue to pay in currency all checks of small amounts ... and will cash all checks of depositors given to laboring men for wages actually due them.
Source
newspapers
3. November 11, 1873 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
The receiver of the First National Bank of this city paid out about $40,000 yesterday, at the rate of thirty cts. on the dollar, to such depositors as had proven their accounts ... He is ready to pay the rest of the depositors, at the same rate, when their accounts are adjusted and they demand the money.
Source
newspapers
4. November 24, 1875 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
To-morrow will be a national thanksgiving day. It will be observed in this city by a suspension of business in the 1st National, Citizens' National, German Bank, and Savings Bank.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (3)

Article from Alexandria Gazette, September 29, 1873

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Article Text

CON Night-The Conservatives of the various wards of the city are to meet at 8 o'clock toat the in the Gazette, for the purpose of delegates to county conto meet ou to night. vention elsewhere leeting places the designated attend 11th proximo the in the notice nominate caudidates for the House of Delegates. THE FINANCIAL SITUATION IN ALEXANDRIA. -The week which closed with Saturday was fullest of trial to the business community, the which, perhaps, has ever occurred in our local history, and it is to be hoped will ever occur again. and it is but justice to say that both on the part of the merchantile and manufacturing community, and the banks, was met in a manwhich must command the public respect, past net sul issure this city confidence have, during in the the future. week, The banks paid currency out 01 more than all the banks in Balti- man the same every money on for currency, to carplied or more firm during having has been period, deposit, paid and enough who has apon ordinary business operations, pay off all and support no has an instance IY his hands banks establishment showed his family. ballance, whose In credit failed single acat the a to get. count on demand, either all that he had in bank, that was to pay statement to the contrary or Any of course an shadow all foundation. needed Of bank off is could all without his employer hands. draw the who had no money iu the not anyout. It is said with perfect truth that DO man went home last Saturday night because of any on part of Alexandria banks. any it is not just to The prospects for the present laboring unpaid, left it. the unpaid stringency If blame the employee week banks the may was for be stated as follows: The First National Bank will coutinue to pay in currency all checks of small amountsdesigned to be used for business purposes or the needful operations of life, and will cash all checks of depositors given to laboring meo for wages actually due them. All other deposites will be represented, if desired, by certified checks upon Alexandria, New York, Philadelphia or Baltimore. The Citizens' National Bank says that it is stronger to-day than when the panic begun, and is amply able to pay every cent due depositors and leave a large surplus. It will not, however, pay large checks designed to draw currency away from the town, or for the pur pose speculation, but will cash, at call, the checks of all depositors drawn for legitimate business purposes, and here, as at the first National Bank, if any depositor will give any employe a check on the bank for wages actualIs due, it will be paid at once, The Farmers' and Mechanics Savings Bank is based upon the following agreement, which all the regular depositors have signed : Pepositors shall have the right to withdraw their deposits at any time by giving thirty days' notice, in writing, of their intention; but this notice may be dispensed with, in the discretion of the President or Cashier, and the same be aid o demand but no less sum than five dolhas of the capital of any depositor shall be wildrawn, unless the whole sum deposited be less than that amount. The notice required by this rule is not now dispensed with. all cases where special agreements in writing have been made checks for the payment of laborers will be paid on presentation. Burke & Herbert coutinue, as last week, to pay a all depositors in currency and meet promptly all demands. Corse & Co. are paying small checks for business purposes. City Treasurer Corse is paying the July interest on the Corporation bonds, and all large demands on Corporation account in certified checks. The teachers of the public schools, junitors, police, laborers, &c., of the Corporation will be paid in currency. This statement is based upon the statements f the leading gentlemen connected with the various banks and banking houses, and may be viewed as a fair exposition of the financial situation.


Article from Alexandria Gazette, November 11, 1873

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Article Text

# House of Jay Cooke & Co. The receiver of the First National Bank of this city paid out about $40.000 yesterday, at the rate of thirty ets. on the dollar, to such depositors as had proven their accounts and appeared to receive the same. He is ready to pay the rest of the depositors, at the same rate, when their accounts are adjusted and they demand the money. Ex-President Johnson is reported to have received about $23.000. It is expected that a further dividend of twenty per ct. may be made in the course of next month. By that time it is hoped that the affairs of Jay Cooke & Co. will be so far adjusted as to determine with considerable accuracy the dates and amounts of future dividends. Rapid progress is being made toward the settlement of the affairs of this house under the proposed arrangement, naming Mr. E. A. Rollins trustee. A large proportion of the creditors have assented to this amicable and economical method of settlement, and those who prefer it have the optional offer of Northern Pacific railway seven-thirty bonds for their accounts at eighty-five, and the remaining fifteen per cent. in cash. This latter offer is only made because the firm have the bonds on hand in sufficient amounts to settle up in this manner with all their creditors, and desire to do so. They have lost no faith in those securities, which are now intrinsically worth more than par, and the interest on them has never defaulted. It is also understood that the January interest in gold is provided for already. --- Wash. Republican.


Article from Alexandria Gazette, November 24, 1875

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Article Text

THANKSGIVING DAY.-To-morrow will be a national thanksgiving day. It will be observed in this city by a suspension of business in the 1st National, Citizens' National, German Bank, and Savings Bank. also in the Cus tom House, Internal Revenue office, and Corn Exchange. and by the observance of Sunday hours in the Postoffice. Rev. Dr. Bullock will preach a thanksgiving sermon in the Union Presbyterian Church, and the 2nd Presbyterian and the 1st Baptist congregations will unite in a thauksgiving service in the Baptist Church at 11 a. m.